Many of us in Georgetown think of Via Umbria as that fun pop-up that landed on Wisconsin Avenue for a little while, specializing in table top items and some dry goods such as pasta, biscuits and crackers. What a difference a reboot makes. Via Umbria has reopened in the same location at 1525 Wisconsin Avenue NW, but its now so much more: butcher shop, cheeserie, wine purveyor, bread shop, deli, coffee shop, cafe, as well as all the previous staples of pasta, biscuits, crackers and table top items, and classes and travel. We so needed this to happen and we need more like it!!
When it comes to having an abundance of quality markets and restaurants in Georgetown, we who live here should patronize the fine businesses we have, but not be satisfied. Joining Via Umbria, we have Stachowskis, Poupon, Baked & Wired, Leopold, Georgetown Cupcake and Dean & Deluca, but we could use more indigenous crafted food. I visit Union Market often and wish we had our own Georgetown version. (btw, in the 70s we did) It is a need and a mission that is not being met, but it could be. Create a position to recruit markets, restaurants, bistros, cafes and bars for a neighborhood that was once food-vibrant, and to market the appeal of being here to potential owners; in other words, a business-centric food czar. Until then, Via Umbria is a promising step.
Here are some photos from the weekend:
Emmy-winning CBS News producer, talk show guest wrangler, published author, host of The Q&A Cafe, print & digital journalist, filmmaker, photog, and former saloon owner. 
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